Group Against Smog and Pollutionhttp://gasp-pgh.org
Cleaning the air with a WordPress siteTue, 31 Mar 2015 16:20:59 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1Join Us!http://gasp-pgh.org/2015/03/27/join-us/
http://gasp-pgh.org/2015/03/27/join-us/#commentsFri, 27 Mar 2015 18:53:28 +0000http://gasp-pgh.org/?p=9537http://gasp-pgh.org/2015/03/27/join-us/feed/0Shenango Coke: Compliance Issues Continuehttp://gasp-pgh.org/2015/03/27/shenango-coke-compliance-issues-continue/
http://gasp-pgh.org/2015/03/27/shenango-coke-compliance-issues-continue/#commentsFri, 27 Mar 2015 17:52:13 +0000http://gasp-pgh.org/?p=9523We recently checked up on Shenango Inc.’s compliance with limitations on the sulfur content of its coke oven gas, visible emissions from the door areas of its coke ovens, and visible emissions from its battery combustion stack, based on data for the fourth quarter of 2014 (the latest, publicly-available data). In earlier posts, we discussed Shenango’s continued noncompliance with those limitations and the failure of an April 2014 enforcement action by the Allegheny County Health Department to address them.

Shenango reported no violations of the limitation on the sulfur content of its coke oven gas during the fourth quarter of 2014. Shenango has not had a quarter without a violation of that limitation since the fourth quarter of 2012. Also, Shenango self-reported only one violation of a limitation that prohibits visible emissions from more than five percent of the coke oven doors during the fourth quarter of 2014. However, ACHD’s inspectors observed an additional three violations of that limitation during the fourth quarter. Similarly, in the second and third quarters of 2014, ACHD’s inspectors observed two and six violations, respectively, while Shenango reported no violations in the second quarter and one violation in the third (in our previous blog posts, we incorrectly omitted the violations that ACHD observed from our discussions). Shenango undertook steps on its own to address such violations in recent years and they have reduced the number of violations, but have not eliminated them.

Unfortunately, during the fourth quarter of 2014, Shenango reported numerous violations of both limitations on visible emissions from its battery combustion stack: the limitation that prohibits emissions that have 20% or more opacity for more than three minutes in any one-hour period, and the limitation that prohibits emissions that have 60% or more opacity at any time. The graphs below show that Shenango’s violations of those limitations have continued at an increasing rate in recent years despite government enforcement actions in 2012 and 2014. The black diagonal lines in the graphs are trend lines that we generated using Microsoft Excel:

]]>http://gasp-pgh.org/2015/03/27/shenango-coke-compliance-issues-continue/feed/0Lawrenceville Steel Foundry: Have Your Voice Heard on 4/14http://gasp-pgh.org/2015/03/25/lawrenceville-foundry/
http://gasp-pgh.org/2015/03/25/lawrenceville-foundry/#commentsWed, 25 Mar 2015 19:23:50 +0000http://gasp-pgh.org/?p=9511The McConway & Torley facility in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood is a steel foundry that produces railcar couplings. Activities at the plant include steel melting, mold-making, and casting. Air pollution from these activities includes particulate matter, benzene, manganese, and other pollutants which not only are likely causing or contributing to foul odors but are harming public health. Particulate matter can cause or exacerbate asthma and lead to premature death in individuals with heart and lung disease. Benzene is a carcinogen for which there is no known safe exposure level. Manganese is a neurotoxin, and excessive manganese exposure can cause cognitive impairment, mood disturbances, and impaired memory, balance, and coordination.

On April 14, 2015, the Allegheny County Health Department (“ACHD”) Air Quality Program will hold a public hearing on their draft operating permit for this facility to take comments from the public. Please come to and speak at the hearing or write to ACHD to ask them to protect people who live and work in Lawrenceville and beyond from air pollution from McConway & Torley’s plant.

[To register to speak at the hearing, call (412) 578-8103 no later than 4 p.m. on Monday, April 13. Bring printed copies of your testimony to submit at the hearing. ACHD will also accept written comments on the proposed permit. Submit comments to ACHD at address above or by e-mail at aqpermits@achd.net. Comments must be submitted on or before Tuesday, April 14, 2015.]

The concerns about emissions from McConway & Torley are not new. In 2010, ACHD was preparing to allow the company to reactivate an electric arc furnace. As part of this process, ACHD performed air dispersion modeling that indicated that manganese concentrations beyond the facility fence line exceeded the “IRIS” value, which is the long-term health-based exposure level developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). As a result, ACHD installed an air pollution monitor at the fence line. In addition, McConway & Torley agreed to install more effective pollution controls as part of a settlement agreement with GASP.

The fence line monitor has now operated for nearly 4 years. Average manganese concentrations at the monitor continue to exceed the USEPA IRIS level. Further, there has been no appreciable improvement in monitored manganese concentrations over the course of the nearly 4-year monitoring. From 4/30/11 to 12/19/14, the manganese concentration has averaged 57% higher than the IRIS level, with short-term spikes even higher. [See the monitor results here.]

Not only have manganese levels proven to be a concern, but many other facility emissions likely have been underestimated. In the past, ACHD had allowed facilities to reduce calculated emissions of certain pollutants if those pollutants were released inside a building. The assumption was that the building itself would contain and control those emissions to some extent. In 2014 ACHD reexamined that procedure, and in its own words, found the procedure “to have no technical basis to reference.” In its operating permit application, McConway & Torley had applied a 50% building control reduction to its emission calculations for releases within the facility. Consistent with the revised policy, the Department removed the 50% building reduction and corrected several other emissions underestimations in McConway & Torley’s application.

Based on the revised calculations and McConway & Torley’s current allowable production levels, the facility would be regulated as a “major source” under the Clean Air Act. In order for the plant to remain eligible for the minor source operating permit for which it had applied, ACHD reduced McConway & Torley’s allowed production levels to 21,250 tons of steel melted per year. This limit will result in a substantial reduction in emissions from the facility. For many years, McConway & Torley has benefited from incorrect emission calculation assumptions. ACHD has taken a strong step to protect the public health by correcting its own mistaken assumptions.

McConway & Torley has already appealed ACHD’s change in policy because it wants to continue to operate at its current production level without investing in additional measures to reduce emissions. If you are concerned about this, you have an opportunity to make your voice heard. Come to the public hearing or write to ACHD to urge it to stick to its guns and protect people who live and work in Lawrenceville and beyond. McConway & Torley must either operate according to ACHD’s draft permit with corrected emissions estimates and production limits or invest in better pollution controls for its plant, and ACHD must continue to monitor pollution levels at its fence line to make sure the facility’s emissions do not create excessive air pollution in Lawrenceville and nearby communities.

]]>http://gasp-pgh.org/2015/03/25/lawrenceville-foundry/feed/6GASP to Hold Public Meeting on Steel Foundry in Lawrenceville on March 16http://gasp-pgh.org/2015/03/10/gasp-to-hold-public-meeting-on-steel-foundry-in-lawrenceville-on-march-16/
http://gasp-pgh.org/2015/03/10/gasp-to-hold-public-meeting-on-steel-foundry-in-lawrenceville-on-march-16/#commentsTue, 10 Mar 2015 20:01:50 +0000http://gasp-pgh.org/?p=9498The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) Air Quality Program recently announced its intent to issue an operating permit for the McConway and Torley steel foundry located on 48th Street in Lawrenceville. This facility is a significant local source of air pollution that has prompted numerous odor and noise complaints from Lawrenceville residents. ACHD’s air permitting process provides an opportunity to reduce emissions from the McConway & Torley facility and improve air quality in Lawrenceville.

On March 16th, GASP will hold a public meeting to discuss air quality in Lawrenceville and how members of the public can participate in the permit development process. Learn more about the permit and what you can do by attending this community meeting.

]]>http://gasp-pgh.org/2015/03/10/gasp-to-hold-public-meeting-on-steel-foundry-in-lawrenceville-on-march-16/feed/0Public Meeting on Lawrenceville Steel Foundry on Monday, March 16http://gasp-pgh.org/2015/02/18/public-meeting-on-lawrenceville-steel-foundry-on-wed-feb-25/
http://gasp-pgh.org/2015/02/18/public-meeting-on-lawrenceville-steel-foundry-on-wed-feb-25/#commentsWed, 18 Feb 2015 15:19:59 +0000http://gasp-pgh.org/?p=9398The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) Air Quality Program recently announced its intent to issue an operating permit for the McConway and Torley steel foundry located on 48th Street in Lawrenceville. This facility is a significant local source of air pollution that has prompted numerous odor and noise complaints from Lawrenceville residents. ACHD’s air permitting process provides an opportunity to reduce emissions from the McConway & Torley facility and improve air quality in Lawrenceville.

On March 16th, GASP will hold a public meeting to discuss air quality in Lawrenceville and how members of the public can participate in the permit development process. Learn more about the permit and what you can do by attending this community meeting.

]]>http://gasp-pgh.org/2015/02/18/public-meeting-on-lawrenceville-steel-foundry-on-wed-feb-25/feed/0MLK, Jr. Day of Servicehttp://gasp-pgh.org/2015/01/22/mlk-jr-day-of-service/
http://gasp-pgh.org/2015/01/22/mlk-jr-day-of-service/#commentsThu, 22 Jan 2015 19:27:36 +0000http://gasp-pgh.org/?p=9108This Monday, January 19th, GASP participated in the 5th annual MLK, Jr. Day of Service at Shady Side Academy. Students, faculty, staff, and parents throughout the district take Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to do community service and activities throughout the Pittsburgh region.

We worked with a bright and energetic group of students from the Junior School. These pre-K to 5th graders learned about our many sources of air pollution with Play-Doh, created ‘Pollution Catchers,’ and planted Kentucky Coffee tree seeds. Students also saw a live porcupine, brought by Animal Rescue League, and learned about rainwater management from StormWorks.

With the participation of over 150 volunteers all around the city, GASP was happy to be involved in this large community effort. A special thanks to Tree Pittsburgh for assisting with the creation of this lesson! Have an educational opportunity for GASP? Contact Jessica at jessica@gasp-pgh.org.

]]>http://gasp-pgh.org/2015/01/22/mlk-jr-day-of-service/feed/2Update on Lawsuit with Shenango Cokehttp://gasp-pgh.org/2015/01/09/update-on-lawsuit-with-shenango-coke/
http://gasp-pgh.org/2015/01/09/update-on-lawsuit-with-shenango-coke/#commentsFri, 09 Jan 2015 18:08:29 +0000http://gasp-pgh.org/?p=9079On August 28, 2014 we wrote about Shenango, Inc.’s compliance with certain emissions limitations that apply to its coke-making operations on Neville Island. Specifically, limitations on visible emissions from the door areas of Shenango’s coke ovens, visible emissions from Shenango’s battery combustion stack, and the sulfur content of Shenango’s coke oven gas.

Shenango’s continued violations of those limitations are the subject of a currently-pending citizen suit that GASP filed against Shenango in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania in May, 2014. Shenango has argued that GASP’s suit should be dismissed because a Consent Order and Agreement that Shenango entered into with the Allegheny County Health Department (“ACHD”) in April 2014 and a Consent Decree between Shenango, ACHD, and the United States Department of Environmental Protection that became effective in November 2012 are “diligent prosecutions” of Shenango’s violations. Every quarter, we check the compliance data that Shenango submits to ACHD to see whether these purportedly diligent prosecutions are actually reducing the number of violations that Shenango commits.

First, there is some good news for Shenango’s neighbors, regarding Shenango’s compliance with the limitation on the sulfur content of its coke oven gas. After violating that limitation fourteen times during the second quarter of 2014, Shenango violated it only once during 2014’s third quarter. The results from 2014’s third quarter are similar to Shenango’s performance during the fourth quarter of 2013, during which Shenango violated the limitation twice, and the first quarter of 2014, during which Shenango violated the limitation once, and are a marked improvement over the results from the third quarter of 2013, when Shenango violated the limitation thirteen times.

Shenango is subject to a permit limitation that prohibits visible emissions from more than five percent of the door areas of the plant’s operating coke ovens. Although the April 2014 Consent Order and Agreement does not require Shenango to take any measures to reduce visible emissions from the door areas of its coke ovens, there is also good news for Shenango’s neighbors regarding Shenango’s compliance with that limitation. Shenango instituted a coke oven door cleaning and replacement program that appears to have largely eliminated its violations of that limitation—for the twelve month period between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014, Shenango reported that on only one occasion were there visible emissions from more than five percent of the door areas of its operating coke ovens.

In contrast, the news regarding Shenango’s compliance with the limitations on visible emissions from its battery combustion stack continues to be bad. In August, we posted graphs that showed that Shenango’s violations of those limitations not only continued following the 2012 Consent Decree, but that they continued at an increasing rate. That trend continued during the third quarter of 2014. Thus, the rate of Shenango’s violations of the limitation on visible emissions from its battery combustion stack that exceed 20% opacity still appears to be increasing over time (the straight lines towards the bottom of each graph are trend lines that we generated using Microsoft Excel):

The rate of Shenango’s violations of the limitation on visible emissions from its battery combustion stack that exceed 60% opacity also appears to be increasing:

–John Baillie, Staff Attorney

]]>http://gasp-pgh.org/2015/01/09/update-on-lawsuit-with-shenango-coke/feed/0EPA Designates Allegheny County as NOT Attaining Updated Particle Standardhttp://gasp-pgh.org/2014/12/19/epa-designates-allegheny-county-as-not-attaining-updated-particle-standard/
http://gasp-pgh.org/2014/12/19/epa-designates-allegheny-county-as-not-attaining-updated-particle-standard/#commentsFri, 19 Dec 2014 18:29:32 +0000http://gasp-pgh.org/?p=9057On December 18, EPA designated all of Allegheny County as being in nonattainment for the annual fine particulate standard (PM2.5) of 12 micrograms/m3. The standard was tightened to this level in 2012. These fine particulates are microscopic and are linked to negative health outcomes such as strokes, heart attacks, and even premature death. Areas must show three years of data below this number to be in attainment, and Allegheny County did not. Regions in nonattainment must devise plans to show EPA how they plan to reduce pollution to achieve the standard. Here, the Allegheny County Health Department is responsible for creating this plan.

Significantly, EPA has designated the entire county as one whole nonattainment area. Previously, EPA had separated the Liberty-Clairton area from the rest of the county, due to the significant pollution created by the Clairton Coke Works. This action means that EPA recognizes that sources throughout the county are responsible for our polluted air, not just one facility. In fact, 10 of the 11 air monitors that measure PM2.5 in and just outside of Allegheny County are ranked in the worst third of all national monitors, when looking at 2011-2013 data. EPA explains their reasoning to include the whole county on page 10 in the “Responses to Significant Comments document” found here: http://www.epa.gov/pmdesignations/2012standards/final/20141217rtc.pdf

Sources of air pollution in our county are varied, including: industrial sources such as the Shenango Coke Works; diesel pollution from trucks, trains, and construction equipment; wood smoke from open burning, wood-fired boilers, and indoor fireplaces; and many more. Thus our solution to this problem must address all of these sectors–we all have work to do to achieve the clean air our citizens deserve. Remember to call or email the Allegheny County Health Department when you smell foul odors or see smoke crossing property lines. They can be reached at 412-687-2243 or at http://www.achd.net/contactAQcomplaint.html.

]]>http://gasp-pgh.org/2014/12/19/epa-designates-allegheny-county-as-not-attaining-updated-particle-standard/feed/0Camera system to give real-time view of Pittsburgh…http://gasp-pgh.org/2014/12/04/camera-system-to-give-real-time-view-of-pittsburgh/
http://gasp-pgh.org/2014/12/04/camera-system-to-give-real-time-view-of-pittsburgh/#commentsThu, 04 Dec 2014 15:36:28 +0000http://twitter-540530079663534081-postCamera system to give real-time view of Pittsburgh air pollution post-gazette.com/news/environme…
]]>http://gasp-pgh.org/2014/12/04/camera-system-to-give-real-time-view-of-pittsburgh/feed/0Environmental Groups Praise Chatham University and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy for Reducing Diesel Emissions, Urge Other Institutions to Adopt Similar Policieshttp://gasp-pgh.org/2014/11/24/environmental-groups-praise-chatham-university-and-pittsburgh-parks-conservancy-for-reducing-diesel-emissions-urge-other-institutions-to-adopt-similar-policies/
http://gasp-pgh.org/2014/11/24/environmental-groups-praise-chatham-university-and-pittsburgh-parks-conservancy-for-reducing-diesel-emissions-urge-other-institutions-to-adopt-similar-policies/#commentsMon, 24 Nov 2014 20:18:41 +0000http://gasp-pgh.org/?p=8985On November 14, 2014 on the campus of Chatham University, a panel of experts discussed clean construction trends, funding opportunities, and current Pittsburgh-based projects that are utilizing clean construction. Clean construction incorporates new practices, equipment standards, and job site management strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and toxic air pollutants, and to minimize site disturbances and community disruption. Participants included experts from Chatham University, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, UPMC, Allegheny County Health Department, Sota Construction, and PJ Dick.

GASP and Clean Water Action applauded both Chatham University and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy for requiring contractors to minimize diesel emissions during construction of their new facilities at the Eden Hall Campus and the Frick Environmental Center, respectively.

“Cleaning up construction sites benefits the health of construction workers operating the equipment as well as the many people who live and work near these projects,” said Rachel Filippini, Executive Director of GASP. “We are so pleased to see Chatham University and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy adopting clean construction practices. We hope other organizations will see that this offers direct, tangible benefits to the surrounding community in the form of cleaner air.”

Diesel particulate matter is the greatest inhalation air toxics cancer risk in the region.¹ Diesel exhaust contains many toxic air pollutants, carcinogens, ozone precursors, and fine particulate matter. Exposure to fine particles causes asthma attacks, heart attacks, lung cancer, strokes, and premature deaths. People living in southwestern Pennsylvania have a significantly higher-than-average risk of developing cancer due to exposure to toxic air pollution, including diesel emissions. Thankfully there are many strategies for reducing diesel pollution, including replacing old equipment, retrofitting equipment to meet new emissions standards, and curtailing unnecessary idling.

“Reducing emissions from construction equipment will have a significant effect on diesel pollution in the region,” said Cassi Steenblok, Program Manager of Clean Water Action. According to the Northeast Diesel Collaborative, the construction industry uses more diesel engines than any other sector. A significant number of the two million diesel engines currently used in construction equipment across the nation were manufactured before the introduction of emissions regulations. “We applaud Chatham University and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy for taking this positive step on their construction sites and for their commitment to environmental stewardship and public health in Pittsburgh,” Steenblok added.

Innovative grant programs, such as the Build it With Clean Diesel program, funded by the Allegheny County Health Department and managed by the Mid Atlantic Regional Air Management Association (MARAMA), will make it possible for qualified small construction companies to upgrade their fleet and thus bid on projects that have clean construction requirements.

The benefits of a clean construction policy to local institutions include:
Health – Direct, tangible benefits to the surrounding community and workers in the form of cleaner air and a more pleasant experience on site while construction projects are underway.
Sustainability – Reduced emissions of black carbon, which offers important short‐term climate change benefits.
Community Relations – Reducing pollution from construction is a great way to show a commitment to being a good neighbor and create a positive presence within the surrounding community.
Fundraising – An attractive talking point when appealing to prospective donors for their support of an upcoming project.

The Pittsburgh region continues to struggle with poor air quality and ranks as one of the top 10 most polluted cities in the nation with regard to short- and long-term particle pollution.² Reducing diesel emissions at construction sites is one strategy for improving local air quality. Poor air quality created by diesel emissions damages our community’s health, especially the health of children and the elderly, who are more vulnerable to air pollution.

Construction workers receive the most potent, toxic dose of diesel emissions, as they work around that equipment each day. Two major studies of health risks from diesel pollution from the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health underscore the need to reduce diesel emissions. The studies examined the public health risks from diesel pollution by looking at 12,000 mining industry workers exposed to diesel carbon particles. They found an astonishing three-fold increased risk of both lung cancer and premature mortality among this study sample. Furthermore, the researchers found that lifetime exposure to diesel exhaust in some U.S. urban areas with high levels of diesel pollution could carry similar risks. According to the study, other workers who are continuously exposed to diesel exhaust are particularly at risk, such as the 1.8 million heavy truck drivers and 460,000 heavy construction equipment operators in this country as estimated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2008.

To learn more about GASP’s work in reducing diesel pollution, please visit our Project page here.